Markets end lower on sustained selling

Markets ended the day lower on sustained selling in heavyweights from the banking, infrastructure and real estate space. The BSE Sensex closed the day lower by 168 points at 17,583 points. The NSE Nifty too lost ground closing the day at 5339.75 points, lower by 45.45 points.

Among the top losers today were DLF, Mahindra and Mahindra, IDFC and BHEL. Stocks that gained today were Reliance Power, Reliance Infrastructure and Cairn India. However, the star performer of the was Maruti Suzuki which gained 4.80% after the company reported a stellar set of automobile sales figures, which rose by 6.5% in February this year, as compared to the corresponding period of last year. ONGC was down more than 2% as the auction sale of equity at the company continued.

All eyes are now focused on the outcome of the UP elections, the results of which are due next week. Any indication that would be discomforting for the government at the centre might lead to a sell off.